Thread carrier



Ap 1937- s THIERFELDER, SR 2,076,751

THREAD CARRIER Filed Jan. 16, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IINVENTOR. 5.62 55/97 Wave/40519 5e.

\ L 44 BY M444 4 w 4! 32 ATTORNEYS April 193T s. THIERFELDER, SR 2,076,751

THREAD CARRI ER Filed Jan. 16, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 5E1 65/?7 T/msera 55: 52.

ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 13, 1937 UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in thread carriers and guides for hosiery knitting machines.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved construction for a thread carrier and guide of the general type disclosed in Patent 1,675,556 of vJuly 3, 1928 to Howie and in which the thread-guiding'tube at the end of the carrier can be readily removed and replaced without requiring soldering or careful adjustment as in some of the constructions proposed heretofore.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved thread carrier and guide of the character referred to in which provision is made to permit knots in the thread to pass readily through the small opening in the guide tube, instead of catching at this point as heretofore, and causing the thread to break.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved thread carrier and guide of the character referred to which is adaptable for use in knitting machines of the full-fashioned type for making the so-calied ringless hose, and in which it is required that three thread carriers can pass in the limited space where formerly one thread carrier had to pass.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved thread carrier and guide of the character referred to which has advantages over the various constructions proposed heretofore in the way of cost of manufacture, simplicity and ruggedness of construction, and reliability of operation.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, an embodiment thereof is shown in the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a thread carrier and guide embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, looking toward the left in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken 45 from Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the guide tube removed;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the guide tube;

Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional views taken on the to Fig. 3, showing a longitudinally to make the two parts l4 and N, I

as more clearly shown in Fig. 4.

At the upper end of the split is an opening it, the opposite edges 20 and 22 of which are recessed, as shown at 24 and 26 in Fig. 4, so that the two recesses form together a niche directly at the juncture of the upper end of the split with the base of the opening It. This construction also provides for the rounded surfaces 28 and 30 for the purpose which will hereinafter'appear. The opposite faces 32 of the parts l4 and it are grooved and are parallel throughout the entire length of the split, as shown more clearly in Figs. 4 and 8.

The guide element for the lower end or tip of the carrier is shown in detail in Fig. 5, and comprises a hollow tube 34 having its outer surface 88 cylindrical, and being of the same crosssectional area from one end thereof to a point 38 just short of its other end, the edge 40 of the latter being flared abruptly outwardly as shown to form a funnel 42 for the entrance of the thread, and also to form a locking head.

The longitudinal split in the tip of the carrier is such that the complementary edges 44 are spaced adistance slightly less than the diameter of the tube 34, but slightly greater than the complementary edges 46.

when it is desired that the tube 84 be replaced, the old one is first removed, by inserting a sharp pointed tool into the funnel 42 and exerting enough force to spring the parts l4 and i6 sufficiently to release the tube. A new tube is then placed against the edges 44 and forced laterally to force the parts l4 and it apart sufflciently to permit the new tube to snap into place as shown in Fig. 7, with the head 42 locked in the recesses 24 and 26 to hold the tube against longitudinal displacement. In operation, the thread passes through an upper guide tube 48 and an eyelet W with which the carrier III is provided, thence along a groove 52 and through the lower tube 34. Any knots in the thread pass readily over the rounded surfaces 28 and 30 into the flared upper end of the tube 34, and are prevented by these surfaces from catching on the relatively sharp edge 40 which is locked in the recesses 24 and 28.

In the modification shown in Figs. 9 to 12, the tip portion l2a of the thread carrier is not split longitudinally as in Figs. 1 to 4 and 6 to 8, but is drilled longitudinally as. shown, to receive the tube 34 which is of the same construction as that shown in Fig. 5. The outside diameter of the drilled hole 32a is greater than the outside diameter of the tube 34 by a difference of from one to two thousandths of an inch so thatthe tube has a relatively snug fit in this hole.

The angle :r'is sufficient to permit insertion of the tube 34 downwardly from the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10 into the operating position shown in full lines. As the tube moves into operating position, the edge 40 thereof snaps into a relatively small niche or recess 26a in the edge 22a. of the opening I8a. The.distance across the opening Ila at the section ll-il is of the order of one thirty-second of an inch less than the outside diameter of the flared end of the tube 34. Therefore, when the tube is forced downwardly into operating position, the edge 40 thereof snaps into place, as shown in full line in Fig. 9, with a relatively tight fit whereby the tube is locked against longitudinal displacement. The niche 28a serves the same purpose as the recesses 24 and 26 in Fig. 4 to definitely place the tube in the correct position, so that no careful adjustment is necessary. In making a replacement, the old tube can be easily forced out with a suitable tool.

Only about one half of the exposed tip 34b of the tube 34 is hardened. The remaining part of the tube, and particularly the upper flared end portion thereof, is relatively yieldable as compared with the hardened tip, to permit the edge 40 to flex sufliciently so that it can. snap into place in the niche 26a. The fact that, in my improved construction the extreme tip only of the tube need be hardened is most important for the reason that in production there is practically no loss due to cracking of the other end of the tube as a result of the hardening process, as heretofore. That is, in the various constructions proposed heretofore it has been advisable, if not necessary, to harden the entire tube which entailed a substantial loss in the hardening process due to cracking of the tubes. In my improved construction, however, it is only necessary to harden the extreme tip of the tube 34, so that the possibility of cracking of the tube at the other end is avoided.

From the foregoing it'will be seen that I have provided an improved thread carrier and guide in which the tube at the tip of the carrier can be readily replaced, and is of such a design and is so locked in place in the carrier'as to permit any knots in thethread to pass readily through this tube without breaking.

It will also be seen that in my improved construction the locking engagement of the head 42 in the recesses 24 and 26 in Figs. 1 to 4, and in the recess 26a in Figs. 9 to 12, definitely places the tube in the correct position, so that no careful adjustment is necessary.

It will be understood that various changes, within the conception of those skilled in the art, are possible without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. As an article of manufacturaa thread carrier having a tip portion split longitudinally thereof and provided with an opening at the upper end of the split, the oppo ite edges of said opening directly at the base thereof being recessed whereby the two recesses form together a niche directly at the juncture of the upper end of the split with the baseofxsaid opening, the opposite faces of the split parts beinggrooved and parallel throughout the entire length of the split.

2. As an article of manufacture, a thread carrier having a tip portion s plit longitudinally thereof and provided with an opening at the upper end of the split, the opposite edges of said opening directly at the base thereof being recessed whereby the two recesses form together a niche directly at the juncture of the upper end of. the split with the base of said opening, the edges of said opening directly above said recess being rounded to form guiding surfaces for the thread, the opposite faces of the split parts being grooved and parallel throughout the entire length of the split. I

3. In combination, a thread carrier having a tip portion split longitudinally thereof and provided with an opening at the upper end of the split, the opposite edges of said opening directly at the base thereof being recessed whereby the two recesses form together a niche directly at the juncture of the upper end of the split with the base of said opening, the opposite faces of the split parts being grooved and parallel throughout the entire length of the split, and a guide element in the form of a tube sprung into place between the split parts of said carrier, the cross-sectional area of said tube being substantially the same from its lower end to a point just short of its upper end, the edge of said tube at the upper end thereof being flared abruptly out wardly to form a funnel for entrance of the thread and to form a head portion interlocked in said niche.

4. As an article of manufacture, a guide element for thread in a knitting machine, comprising a metallic tube of substantially the same cross-sectional area from one end thereof to a point just short of its other end, the edge of said tube at said other end thereof being flared abruptly outwardly to form a funnel for the entrance of the thread, the tip portion only of said one end of said tube being hardened whereby the remainder of said tube is relatively yieldable as compared to said tip portion. 1

5. In combination, a thread carrier having a tip portion provided with a hole longitudinally through,the same and with an opening at the upper end of same hole, one edge only of said element in the form of a tube disposed in said hole and having a cross-sectional area substantially the same from its lower end to a point just short of its upper end, the edge of said tube at the upper end thereof being flared abruptly outwardly to form a funnel for entrance of the thread and to form a head portion sprung into interlocked relation in said niche.

6. In combination, a thread carrier having a tip portion provided with an opening extending longitudinally through the'saine and with an opening at the upper end of the longitudinal opening and extending transversely through said tip portion, and a guide element in the form of a tube disposed in the longitudinal opening and having a cross-sectional area substantially the same from its lower end to a point just short of its upper end, the edge of said tube at the upper end thereof being flared abruptly outwardly, to

form a funnel for entrance of the thread and to form a head portion, the flared edge of said tube being sprung into engagement with each of the opposite edges of said second-named opening and having an interlocking fit in at least one of said opposite edges.

SEIBERT ER, SR. 

